Fruit-box



(No Model.)

FRUIT BOX. y No. 570,763. Pat-,entd Nov. 3,v A1896.

F' .1, F' 2, g ,g '4.1 73 l ,je w r ff Ag BJ io Ml i ifi T "wf if i@ Y .o LA@ f olrlz @E J IA;- /Ij me bams mens co., moauma. wAsmnmou. n. c.

@ww/LJ@ TTUHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDEN RAYMOND MORRILL, OF TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA.

FRU IT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,763, dated November 3, 1896. a

Application filed November l, 1895. Serial No. 567,597. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that AI, EBEN RAYMOND MoR- RILL, of Truckee, in the county of Nevada and State of California, have in-vented a new and Improved 'Fruit-BOX, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved fruit-box which is simple and durable in construction, arranged for con-v veniently packing the fruit therein and placing the cover and bottom securely in position without the employment of special fastening devices.

The invention consists principally of ends formed on their inner faces with undulating grooves, sides for rigidly connecting the ends with each other, and straight tops and bottoms adapted to be pushed in and drawn out of the said grooves.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement as arranged for a two-compartment box. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the improvement provided with removable partitions. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the improvement arranged as a single-' compartment box. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of another modified form of the improvement; and Fig. '7 is a view showing a modified form of the improvement, the bottom and top being removed.

The improved fruit-box, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, is arranged as a two-compartment box and is provided with solid ends A A' and a transverse partition A2, connected with each other by the sides B B', securely fastened in place by nails C, as plainly indicated in Fig. l. On the inner faces of the ends A and A and the partition A2 are formed transversely-extending undulating grooves A3, adapted to be engaged by a top D, preferably made in two pieces, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2.

Near the lower part of the said ends A A and on their inner faces are also formed undulating grooves A, adapted to be engaged by a bottom E, preferably made in a single piece, as indicatedin Fig. 2,.

As illustrated, the sides B and B are made in two strips, similar to the top D, the strips being placed suitable distances apart so as to form Ventilating-spaces to permit the air to readily pass through the fruit contained in the box. In case the partition A2 is used, as shown, then the lower end thereof rests on the upper surface of the bottom E.

The top D and bottom E are made of thin, straight boards or strips, and when pushed into the grooves A3 A*L they readily assume at their ends the undulating form of said grooves, whereby said top and bottom are securely held in place in the ends A A', as well as in the upper part of the cross-partition A2. Thus by the arrangement described no special fastening devices, such as nails, catches, and the like, are necessary to hold the top and bottom in place, and at the same time the latter can be readily removed, whenever desired, by a sidewise pull. v

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the ends F of the box are provided on their inner faces with a series of undulating grooves F', and the sides G are rigidly connected with said end pieces by the tops and bottoms I-I and H' engaging the undulating grooves F in the manner previously described. Grooves F2 are also formed in the ends between the grooves F to receive shelves or partitions H2 for forming a boX with several compartments one above the other, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 3. The top, bottom, and shelves may each be made of a single piece, but preferably several pieces are used, so as to form Ventilating spaces between the adjacent pieces.

As shown in Fig. 4, the ends I and I are provided with undulating grooves l2, said ends being rigidly connected by the sides J, and the grooves are adapted to receive the top K and bottom K in the manner previously described in reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 5, the top K is made of two pieces, while the bottom Kismade of a single piece, but each maybe made of a single piece or two pieces, as desired.

As shown in Fig. 6, the ends L are pro vided IOC) with a Vseries of undulating grooves L both at the top and bottom, and the ends are rigidly connected with each other at the sides N, and the top O and bottom'O are each made in several pieces engaging the undulating grooves L.

The box, as shown in Fig. 7, is provided With end pieces R, rigidly connected with each other by sides S, and the undulating grooves R extend on the inner faces ofthe ends from one side to the other, which is not the 'case when two boards or strips are used to form a bottom, top, or shelf, as then each board or strip has a separate groove and the adjacent inner ends of the grooves are placed a short distance apart to also hold the adjacent ends of the boards apart to form ventilating-spaces, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6.

The ends A A] are preferably tapered, as

shown in Fig. l, to give more strength to the box.

By the arrangement described the bottom of the box is located a suitable distance above the floor or ground on which the box is set, so that the fruit is not liable to be soiled. Furthermore, the bottom, by being above the floor, is sufliciently springyto give on jars incident to transportation, thereby preventing undue pressing and spoiling of the fruit.

It is understood that the form of the undulating grooves can be greatly varied, and the sides, as well as the tops and bottoms, can be made in a single piece or in several pieces, the pieces, however, being arranged to form ventilating-spaces, as above mentioned. It

is understood also that the said grooves, be ing machined on the ends and centers of said boxes, form cleats on both the top and bottom of the box, so that when one box is placed on top of another in packing in cars the said cleats keep the boxes apart a suitable distance, preventing the Weight of fruit in one box from pressing on the box under it, the said cleats also keeping the boxes apart for ventilation.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as nenT and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A fruit-box, comprising ends formed on their inner faces with undulating grooves, sides rigidly attached to the said ends, and straight tops and bottomsadapted to be pushed in and drawn out of said undulating grooves, substantially as shown and described.

2. A fruit-box, comprising ends formed on their inner faces at top and bottom with a series of undulating grooves, sides made in pieces and rigidly attached to said ends, tops and bottoms made in pieces and adapted to engage said undulating top and bottom grooves, and partitions adapted to engage the undulating grooves in said ends between the top and bottom grooves, substantially as shown and described.

3. A fruit-box, comprising ends formed at their inner faces with undulating grooves extending from one end to the other, sides rigidly connected With said ends, and tops and bottoms engaging said undulating grooves, substantially as shown and described.

4:. A fruit-box, comprising ends formed on their inner faces with undulating grooves, sides connecting the ends together, and a thin strip having its end portions removably held in the undulating grooves of the ends of the box, substantially as set forth.

EBEN RAYMOND MORRILL.

lfitnesses:

Gao. E. MoRRILL, PATRICK HENRY. 

